Chapter 8 - An Unfortunate Stop

The trio of Jade, Creed and Jephtah were now on their way to the city of El Roka. They were now out of Etto city and are now passing through the Desert Plains of Vasco. An estimate of 12 hours to 24 hours is the usual time of the trip from Etto to El Roka. The Sandy plains surrounding the terrain gave Jephtah a hard time in maneuvering the 4WD Jeep that they were on. Jade and Creed sat at the back seat of the 4WD. Jade was watching the scenery that they were passing through as the trip went by and Creed was looking the other way while smoking a cigarette. 


Jade looked at Creed while he was looking the other way. She noticed that Creed always had his left arm covered with a long sleeve. She always wondered what was under it. She also always wondered what happened to Creed's left eye due to him always wearing an eye patch over it. Her mind was beginning to be filled with curiosity about Creed. She always thought that he was a mysterious person. Finally Jade asked


"So...what's with the eye patch?" 


Creed was still staring at the scenery and did not answer. He was too much spaced out to hear it so Jade called his name and tried to ask again.


"Creed!"


Creed now heard Jade call him and now faced her.

"Yes what's up?" he answered.

"So...what's with the eye patch?" She asked.

"Uhh, yeah I lost my left eye so I'm covering it." Creed replied.

"Thanks for that mister obvious! What I meant was how did it happen?" She replied to him.

"It's a long story." Creed replied to her in a sudden. She noticed the change of facial expression on his face.


"What's wrong?" Jade asked.

"It's nothing." Creed said as he smiled at her.

"You can tell me." She replied.

"It's just the events of when I lost my eye. I always feel sad when I remember it." Creed replied.

"I'm sorry. Don't worry I won't ask again." Jade said while worrying about Creed. She now went back to sightseeing but still she was thinking about him.

Suddenly a flashback occurred in Creed's mind. The flashback of him and Slade two years ago.

"RGAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH" Creed exclaimed as he attacked Slade.

"You are too predictable Creed. I trained you better than this!!" Slade replied as she evaded and countered Creed's attempt of a strike throw.

Slade now threw Creed to the ground. Creed felt the hurt in his back because of the impact. He tried to get up but as he got up Slade was now rushing in front of him with her Bowie Knife. Creed saw the trajectory of her slash and evaded by sliding to the right. He successfully evaded but not without paying a price. Creed now subdued Slade from behind and threw her on the ground. Creed disarmed the Bowie Knife from Slade. There was blood dripping from the knife and also there was blood dripping from Creed's ruptured left eye. He lost his left eye as he dodged Slade.  Slade was now immobilized and fatigued and Creed got out his gun and pointed it at her.

"Good job Creed....now...Set me free..." Slade said to him.

"I'm sorry..." Creed said out loud.

Jade looked at him and asked.


"You alright Creed? Who're you apologizing to?" 


Creed now looked around and saw Jade looking at him with a puzzled facial expression.

"It's nothing really. Forget I said that." Creed replied.


"I hope you're okay Creed.." Jade said.


"I'm fine thanks for your concern." Creed said as he smiled and pat Jade on the head.

Creed now faced Jephtah and asked him.


"How long before we reach El Roka?"

"6 more hours tops."  Jephtah replied.

Creed sighed with boredom as he looked at the horizon of the desert. The trip just went on normally and the three of them were minding their own business until Jephtah noticed that something wrong. He looked at the side mirror of the 4WD Jeep and saw a fin like object that was following their Jeep. 

"Uhhh guys... Something's tailing us from the underground!" Jephtah warned them.

Creed and Jade looked around the perimeter of their vehicle and they also saw the fin like object. Jade took her bow and arrow out and was about to fire arrows at it but Creed stopped her.

"Wait!!" Creed said.

"What?! It's going for us!" Jade said.

"Don't be hasty. It might just be passing by." Creed said as Jade disarmed herself.

The huge fin like object was now beside the 4WD Jeep of the trio and was not doing anything but sailing beside them.

"See?" Creed said to her.

But now Creed noticed that the fin like creature was now resurfacing and it began ramming the jeep with it's body. 


"JEPH MOVE THE JEEP!!!" Creed shouted as he drew his 45 caliber pistol and began shooting at the Sand Monster.

"EVERYBODY HOLD ON TO SOMETHING!!!" Jephtah said as he maneuvered the jeep to safety. 

"I TOLD YOU IT WAS COMING FOR US!!!" Jade said to Creed as she began shooting arrows at the Sand monster.

The sand monster was now following their jeep and Jephtah cannot lose sight of it. He maneuvered the jeep with force but still he could not shake it. Creed and Jade were attacking the monster with their weapons but it had little effect on it. 

"HANG ON I'M GOING TO STEP ON IT!!" Jephtah said as he stepped on the gas to make the 4WD jeep go into full speed. They were going really fast and they almost lost the sand monster.


"Whew! That was a close one huh??" Jephtah said as he was slowing down. 


"We lost it. Thank goodness." Jade said as she sighed with relief.


Then as the trio were just beginning to relax the Sand Monster appeared right in front of them. Jephtah was caught of guard and he crashed the jeep by accident. The three of them were not really hurt for they were able to get out of the jeep on time but there was another threat that awaited them. The sand monster now resurfaced it's full body and now began to prepare itself for attack.


"Craap..." Jephtah said as he was getting up. "Now we have to deal with this??"

Creed and Jade got up also and drew their respective weapons. Jade prepared her aim at the fully surfaced sand monster. 


"It's a Sand King Chimera." Creed said as his facial expression changed.


Both Jade and Jephtah looked at Creed with awe. They were shocked that he knew what type of monster it is. 


"How do you know what it is?" Jade asked him


"We've had a couple of run-ins in the past." Creed said


"Past?" Jade thought to herself.


"Past huh?" Jephtah thought to himself as well.

Creed now with his weapon drawn was preparing to attack the Chimera. He then noticed the sleeve that was covering his left arm. He knew that it would slow him down and it will not help him be efficient in combat so he ripped the sleeve to expose his left arm. Jade and Jephtah were shocked at what they saw. 


"Prosthetic Steel Arm??" Jade thought to herself.


"No... It can't be.. HIM!!!"  Jephtah thought to himself.


"Okay.. LET"S DANCE!!!" Creed said as he rushed to attack the Chimera.